Faith and I meet in Harry’s office. Though we’ve spoken on the phone and texted, it’s the first time I’ve seen him since the shoot with Maximillian, almost two weeks ago. The Pussy Paws April Fool’s promotion in today’s Daily is open on his desk. In the advertisement, Faith is behind the bench stirring a pot in the dark wig and my too-big-for-her silk blue shirt, one eyebrow raised. I’m resplendent sitting up on the bench in the long blonde artificial tresses and wearing the short black skirt, tan control-tights and racy red top ensemble. White flour is splattered all over us. I’m feeding the executive-looking actor from a can of cat food. The picture is captioned: Eat Me… Unscripted. Unsupervised. Who knows what these cheeky cats will get up to next? Catch the action Mondays, 9 pm. Only on SC6.

It’s all there – everything Alex threatened me with.

From the other side of Harry’s desk, Faith smiles at me reassuringly.

Harry wraps his arm around me. ‘Alex’s big scoop – outtakes of a cat food commercial.’

I scan the advertisement. I’ve toned up – not a roll of fat in sight. But an awful lot of my bare flesh is on show. I don’t exactly scream thin enough to dress like a hooker. ‘Or we carried his threat out for him?’

‘No.’ Harry squeezes my shoulder. ‘This is you, Gracie. Fun, funny, wonderful you.’

‘It’s a little too much of me...’

‘It’s why your many fans adore you.’

‘Because I’m not size zero?’

‘Because you’re real. I assure you, it’s irresistibly attractive.’

I glance at the picture. I look down at my tummy. I’m not perfect, and I never will be, but the most miraculous thing happens: I like me, too.

‘Joanna is thrilled. Also, she warned us not to pull anything like it again.’ Harry grins.

‘All’s well that ends well,’ Faith says.

Harry puts the clipping in a file labelled with my name. I’m relieved it ended with my friendship, my career and (most of) my dignity intact.

‘I’ve sent thank-you flowers to Liz,’ he says. ‘Pink lilies, with a silk butterfly in the centre.’

‘Harry, that’s very thoughtful.’ For her ear and her idea, I made a sizable donation to a charity of Liz’s choice. ‘They sound lovely.’

‘Would you like me to send you some?’ he asks.

‘No, I didn’t mean—’

‘I don’t mind,’ Harry says, beaming cheesily. ‘It could be thanks for the dirty talk the other night.’

When my towel was slipping and I was on the phone with Harry. It seems so long ago and yet…

I smack him playfully. He removes his arm from my shoulder.

Faith shakes her head. ‘I don’t want to know.’

‘How are the girls?’ I enquire.

I’m changing the topic, but there it is – that lopsided grin.

‘The twins?’